Council approves safety and livability pilot: more HST officers, CARE response, expanded park cleaning

The Salem City Council on Oct. 13 adopted a supplemental budget to launch a pilot program that combines expanded policing outreach, a behavioral‑health response team, and increased park and downtown cleaning.

The package — described by staff as a "safety, healthy and clean" pilot — adds two permanent police officer positions to the Homeless Service Team (HST) to expand coverage from four days to seven days a week, funds overtime and contracted services for an expanded parks cleaning program, and authorizes a new CARE (Capital Area Response and Evaluation) pilot expected to begin in July 2026 that pairs a paramedic, an EMT and a Marion County mental‑health professional to respond to nonemergency behavioral‑health calls.

Chief financial officer Josh Eggleston told the council the near‑term cost will be paid from the general fund beginning working capital; staff identified about $850,000 in additional unanticipated revenue and proposed recognizing that amount in the current fiscal year to fund the pilot and to add contingency. Eggleston said the pilot programs are temporary and would be evaluated during the 2027 budget process.

Council discussion and public comment: Councilors and members of the public framed the pilot as a response to downtown safety, cleanliness and homelessness concerns raised in public meetings and a recent community survey. Speakers from downtown business and nonprofit groups told the council they supported expanding HST coverage. Ashish Pori, a member of the Salem Police Department advisory council, said HST officers "know these people by name" and praised plans to expand the team. The Main Street board chair said extra HST coverage should improve safety and encourage patronage of downtown businesses.

Staff details and limits: Police staff said the HST currently operates as a two‑officer team during four days; the budget action adds two officers for a total of four to provide seven‑day coverage. The CARE pilot is new and will pair emergency medical professionals with a contracted Marion County mental‑health clinician to divert non‑violent behavioral‑health calls from traditional public‑safety response. Parks expansion funds cover overtime, refuse disposal costs and some contracted cleanup services to speed trash removal in downtown and Northeast Salem.

Vote and next steps: The council adopted the supplemental budget by roll call with all members voting in favor. Staff said if the council wishes to continue the pilot beyond the initial year, it will return recommendations and evaluation data to the budget committee in spring 2027.